I took just one painting class in college — oil painting. I loved it, but had more fun working in clay, and spent many semesters up to my elbows in “mud.”

Years after graduating, when I decided to paint again, I dug out my old oils. They still held magic.

Back then, I was working full time as Creative Services Director, and got up to paint before going to work. That gave me 20–45 min. of painting time about three times a week.

Each day I took a photo of my painting in progress. I liked seeing the painting develop, and knew that I could “blow it” with my next brush stroke. I figured if I had a record of what it looked like when I liked it, I could get back to that stage.

Opaque oil paints are “forgiving” because you can always paint over a passage you don’t like.

Watercolors are transparent, so there’s really “no going back”. Instead we continually move forward, adjusting our plans to make use of any perceived mistakes along the way.

I still take photos of my paintings in progress. I like to see the evolution of paintings — and so do my students.

I am both a “fast” and a “slow” painter. My motto is:
“Get in, Get Out, Step Back, Repeat…”

Basically this means that each brush stroke is done quickly, decisively, courageously … and then I STOP, step back, and look to see what’s happening with the painting.

If I know what to do next, I continue on with this “Get in, Get Out, Step Back, Repeat…” method.

Sometimes there’s a long pause between brush strokes. Sometimes it’s because I don’t know what to do next. Sometimes it’s because there is something else that must be done (dinner anyone?).

Most of my paintings take weeks to complete. Even when I think a painting is finished, I put it away for a day or two so that the next time I look at it I have “fresh eyes”.

This is one reason I like to have many paintings in progress at one time. I can easily switch from one to another if I get stuck.

My students long to see me finish a painting in class. Sigh. They want to know how to know when a painting is finished.

Alas, this is a subjective matter.

Robert Genn, a revered master painter from Canada once wrote: “it is better to under paint by 10% than to over paint by 1%.”

Keep painting. The more you do it, the better you get, and the easier it will be to know when your painting is finished.

It’s an unsatisfying answer, yet true.

Let’s continue the analogy of planting a garden and growing a watercolor practice. In the last post we ended with you imagining yourself painting, even just for five minutes a day. Now, back to our garden …

If you planted the seeds too close together, you will have to pluck some of them out of the ground to give the others room to grow. If you don’t, all of your plants will be weak and their lives short and stunted.

Sometimes the habits we learn when we first begin to paint seem like the easiest way to keep painting. That doesn’t mean they are good habits to keep.

For example, it might be easier to blot excess water from a painting in the beginning; but it’s not nearly as helpful as learning how much water to use, and how to control it will be later in your painting life.

Practice more painting without blotting.

Even after the seedlings are up and ready to bear fruit, your work continues. There’s the watering, and weeding, and even talking to your garden.

At first you might be fearful about your painting practice. Yet unless you continue to “feed, weed, water, prune, and nurture” your new painting, it will die before it’s had time to grow.

When growing tomatoes, you must pinch off some of the additional leaves to encourage the plant to bear fruit. If you don’t pinch, the plant becomes “leggy” and produces fewer tomatoes.

This same “leggy” or “adolescent stage” happens with paintings too. Don’t worry! We ALL go through this and you can too! Keep painting!
 
Take five minutes each day to look at your paintings in progress. 
Allow for down time between your painting times. During the down times, don’t pick up the brush, just think about your painting.

Allow your mind to get used to the idea of you painting. Allow your hand to hunger for the touch of the brush. You will know when it’s time to paint again.

When that time comes, only paint what you “know” to paint. Let your painting, and your hand guide you to paint. Keep your mind and your inner critic at bay.

Trust only in the process. Trust that as surely as you knew it was time to paint, you will know what to paint next.

Paint quickly and boldly. 
Stop often.
Stand back.
Give your painting space and time so you can see and hear it more clearly.

In this way your confidence in your painting skills will grow.

If your abilities and skills catch up with your ideas, your confidence might slip or your desire to paint could ebb.

If that happens, you have reached your first plateau; you have leveled off. 

It’s time to shake things up. Try a new technique. Take a new class. Learn a new skill. Take your painting to the next level. Paint new and more challenging subjects.

If you don’t challenge yourself, your interest and your confidence will begin to erode.

Cultivate your confidence to keep it, and your paintings, STRONG!

Cultivating your confidence is like cultivating a garden. 

First prepare the soil. Dig it up and turn it over to get it ready for the seeds. The soil needs air to make room for growth.

Do you want to learn to paint? Are you open to the idea of learning something new, something that’s outside your comfort zone? 

Confidence starts as a germ of an idea, a “seed thought.” Our mind has to be ready to accept it or it won’t take hold. Can you believe in your abilities? Can you try to believe in them? 

If so, go on to step two, answer some questions: What is your weather like? How much sun and rain do you get? Can you water your garden easily or will it be a hassle? 

What subjects interest you; what do you want to paint? Do you have reference materials, photos, or objects nearby? Is it easy to get a reference image or can you take a photo?

There are no right or wrong answers, just information from which to make decisions.

Variety provides excitement in a garden and in life. Plant a variety of flowers and vegetables. Start and keep several paintings in progress at all times. 

Next plant your seeds and water gently. Be patient. Watch for signs of growth. It takes time. Check back often. 

If you watch closely you might see signs of the dirt moving out of the way as the seedling pushes its way toward the sky.

The sky begins where our feet touch the earth!

Take classes, practice often, and sketch regularly. Sketches are rough. They are a quick way to get ideas out of your head and onto paper. Be easy about this. Sketching trains your eye to really see the world.

Adults are used to knowing what to do, and are often impatient when learning something new. Get over it! You are worth the time it takes to learn to paint!

Within days all of your seedlings will have two “practice leaves.” These first leaves are not their “real” leaves, that’s why so many different seedlings look alike. The next set of leaves will reveal the true nature of the plant.

Consider your initial paintings your “practice paintings.” You are learning how to handle the brush, water, and paint. Future paintings will give you more information about your true nature.

Set up a painting practice. You develop as you paint. First set aside time each day to just think about painting. Even five minutes will help.

My next post will offer more information on how to continue to Cultivate Your Confidence as you learn to paint with watercolor.

Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself. It’s so easy to make a decision after a cup of coffee in the morning when I’m feeling energized and excited about the day ahead. 

Do I want to start a new painting this afternoon? You bet I do!

The error is in thinking that one decision is going to make magic happen.

That’s not how it works.

If we only had to decide something once for it to be so, we would all be fit as a fiddle, be our “ideal” weight, have our dream career, and live happily ever after.

It’s the continuous action of making the same decision over and over again that makes the difference.

That’s why I can wake up in the morning feeling eager for the day ahead, excited to start a new painting later, and never start one.

Later in the day, after running errands, teaching a class, checking email, and eating lunch, my energy flags, and my early morning decision to start a new painting feels more like a job than a great idea.

That’s when I have to re-make the decision to start a new painting!

I don’t always follow through.

Instead I might decide to do an easier task, one that’s just as necessary, but probably less meaningful.

This is the decision point between doing my “genius work” and the myriad of business or life tasks we all face daily.

(We all have “genius work” — the work that only we can do. My “genius work” is painting, writing, and teaching. What’s yours?) 

It’s harder to make the “right” decision when we’re tired, sad, overwhelmed, depressed, or low for any reason.

This is the time to wake up your inner Super Hero/Heroine.

Really! We all have one. You knew this as a kid. Have you forgotten?

Your inner Super Hero is still inside you, waiting to be called forth. It might sound strange, but it’s actually pretty easy to do.

Take five minutes right now and go stand in either the “Wonder Woman” or “Super Man” pose. 

You know the pose — your feet are planted 2–3 feet apart, your fists are either on your hips or your arms are raised in a “V”. 

Do this pose for five minutes and You Will Feel ENERGIZED!

This quiet activity can be done as often as you like with no adverse side affects. It’s cheaper than a cup of coffee or an energy drink, and far better for you.

If you are at work, or not alone, imagine standing in the pose.

When done with your pose, rethink the decision you were about to make, and “May the force be with you.”

Go do your “genius work”!